By Meghan Belnap
Your body works hard to get rid of all the toxins that build up. Toxins enter the body through the air we breathe, the food we eat and lifestyle factors like smoking. Too much, too fast can slow the body’s natural process down. Here are five ways to give your body a boost, detoxify and feel better.
Juice Cleanse
Juice cleanses are gaining popularity because they work well. A short three day cleanse provides essential vitamins, minerals and enzymes that nourish the body. Fresh fruits and vegetables are well known to provide the body with everything it needs to boost the natural process of flushing toxins from the system. The juice is absorbed into the body and starts working immediately. Add dark, leafy greens and fresh fruit for a powerful cleanse.
Smoothie Cleanse
If you’re not ready to go on a purely liquid diet, the smoothie alternative might be more your style. It’s similar to the juice cleanse, but you’re still getting plenty of fiber and whole food goodness. Use a blender to liquify fruits and vegetable combinations, and then drink. A three day smoothie cleanse provides excellent nutrition and a whole body detoxification that will leave you feeling great.
Natural Diuretic
Some cleanses use diuretic principles to flush toxins from the system. As you get rid of excess water, the toxins that have built up are flushed out as well. For a natural diuretic, drink dandelion tea with honey at least twice a day. Another option is burdock tea with honey. There are plenty of supplements that serve the same purpose if you’re looking for a quicker solution.
Natural Laxative
Laxatives may be the most well known method of cleansing. There are quite a few cleanses that work by cleansing the colon. Natural cleansing options include licorice tea and teas containing cascara sagrada. Both of these are gentle, but effective. Teas containing senna are stronger and may have more side effects, but senna is another powerful, natural laxative option.
Supplements
Every health food store carries some sort of blend or supplements for cleansing. You can find whole body cleansing supplements, colon cleansing and liver cleansing just to name a few. Big box retailers sometimes carry these types of supplements as well. You can even order and try out the Isogenics cleanse from online retailers for cheap. Any way you go make sure that the product you are getting is quality by checking the ingredients and reading online reviews.
Some people do whole body cleanses once a month. Others do them only when they start to feeling worn down. How often you do a cleanse and the type of cleanse you choose is up to you. If you have health issues, talk to your doctor before beginning any cleansing program.